MLB.com beat writer Brian McTaggart blogs about all things Astros.

Lyles’ debut most anticipated since Pence

Astros manager Brad Mills said it best Sunday when he said he told Jordan Lyles he could be with the club for two starts or 20 years. Whatever the future holds, it begins now. The Astros’ top prospect – only 20 years old – makes his long-anticipated Major League debut tonight at Wrigley Field for the Astros when they face the Cubs.

Barely three years removed from his high school graduation and being drafted 38th overall by the Astros (who gave him a $930,000 bonus), Lyles’ debut is the most anticipated in team history since perhaps Hunter Pence in 2007. Pence was the Astros’ top prospect when he made his Major League debut on April 28, 2007 at Minute Maid Park, going 1-for-3 in a 10-1 win over the Brewers. He went 2-for-4 the next night and has been in the lineup since.

Of course, Pence was 24 years old by the time the Astros finally called him. He had a terrific spring that season, but the Astros were committed to finding a way to keep former top prospect Chris Burke on the roster with Craig Biggio closing out his career with his final season at second base. Despite being the most difficult out in the Grapefruit League in 2007, Pence opened the season at Triple-A Round Rock, with Burke opening the year as the starting center fielder. It took less than a month for Pence to get called up, and later in the year he moved to right field, where he’s been entrenched since.

The Astros aren’t promising anything to Lyles more than two starts – tonight against the Cubs and Sunday in San Diego against the Padres. Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez is expected to be healthy enough to return to the rotation by then, but if Lyles puts together two quality starts, the club is going to have a decision to make. They’re going to have to find a way to keep Lyles in the rotation, which could come at the expense of Rule 5 pick Aneury Rodriguez.

But first things first.

Lyles got off to a rough this year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but has slowly gotten into a groove. He pitched six innings in his most recent start May 25. In his last three starts, he was 2-1 with three earned runs allowed in 20 2/3 innings. Like Pence did four years earlier, Lyles dazzled the Astros in Spring Training with his composure and competitiveness, but began the season in the Minors anyway.

For a Minor League organization that hasn’t had many prospects to get excited about in recent years, the Astros can’t help but be excited about Lyles. Whether this is the start of a terrific Major league career or something else remains to be seen. But there’s little doubt it’s time to see what Lyles can do.

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2 Comments

The positive atmosphere in the club house, will calm him down. I doubt Mills is gonna do anything but praise this young man! Mills steady hand, and calm demeanor will be
a big positive! I’m gonna DVR this game, so I can watch it over, and over again. :)

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